Five people talking around a bench in garden. A black man, a young child in beanie with cat ears and a fem-presenting person in denim jacket sitting, while a fem-presenting person in fur-coat, a trans man and a trans woman standing behind, all talking.

Greater Manchester Pledge to End Conversion Therapy

Conversion therapy is a practice where a person or organisation acts with the intention to change, cure or suppress the sexuality or gender identity of a targeted individual. LGBTQ+ people have nothing to be ashamed of and there is nothing wrong or broken about who we are, yet conversion practices are still legal in the UK today and are being carried out here in Greater Manchester.

The pledge:

Greater Manchester should be a safe city-region for everyone and we are committed to ending conversion therapy for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Conversion therapy is a practice where an individual or organisation seeks an intervention with a predetermined outcome to change, cure or suppress the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person. Just as we won’t do business with those who promote discrimination or division, we believe that organisations that support, promote or facilitate conversion therapy for any member of the LGBTQ+ community should not be receiving public funding.

Organisations that support, promote, or facilitate conversion therapy or which campaign against the ending of conversion therapy should not be able to provide services on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, or to receive support from the GMCA or its affiliated community funding streams.

Four people stand with their backs facing the camera, they each are wearing different and unique items of clothing, and stand at different heights. You cannot see their heads as they cary umbrellas in colours of sexuality identity flags

You can help to end conversion therapy in Greater Manchester:

The Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Equality Panel launched the ‘Greater Manchester pledge to end conversion therapy’ to put a stop to these abusive practices and make the city-region a safer place for all LGBTQ+ people. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester has pledged his support, and now we need your help to encourage leaders across Greater Manchester to sign up to the pledge.

Actions you can take: 

  • Email your local councillor and MP in Greater Manchester to ask them to pledge their support. We’ve provided a template below for you to use, but please do consider personalising this.
  • Encourage your workplace to sign up to the pledge.
  • If you’re a member of a religious group, ask your local religious leader to sign the pledge.
  • Ask a community group or charity that you’re involved with to support the pledge.
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Current signatories:

This list will be updated as and when we receive new signatures. To add your name to this list, please email lgbtequalitypanel@lgbt.foundation. 

Following a meeting with the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Equality Panel in October 2022, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester raised an urgent business item at the November GMCA Board meeting to obtain formal agreement from the Board for the Panel’s GM Pledge to End Conversion Therapy. A recording of the GMCA Board meeting can be found on GMCA’s website (item begins at 14:05). On Friday 25 November 2022, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)’s Board unanimously agreed to adopt a policy, becoming a further signatory to this pledge.

Ban Conversion Therapy:

You can find out more about conversion therapy and the national campaign for an effective and inclusive ban on the Ban Conversion Therapy website.

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